Probetrics — Sports Analytics
College Football slate
at
Sat, Sep 19, 6:30 PM ET
Robert W. Plaster Stadium
Missouri State Bears
0-1 · #205 Elo
Spread Total Moneyline

The read

On rating alone Marshall Thundering Herd are 4.5 points better (#133 vs #205 of 240), and MOST add 0.0 for home field. The clearest mismatch is the rushing game: MRSH rushing ranks #99, MOST defends it at #101; the other way MOST #112 into MRSH's #30.

Who has the edge

Rating
Clear edge
MRSH
MRSH rated 4.5 points better on Elo (#205 vs #133).
Home & rest
Even
MOST gets 0.0 points for home field.
Passing game
Even
MRSH passing ranks #28, MOST defends it at #106; the other way MOST #41 into MRSH's #107.
context · not in the margin
Rushing game
Clear edge
MRSH
MRSH rushing ranks #99, MOST defends it at #101; the other way MOST #112 into MRSH's #30.
context · not in the margin
Third down & red zone
Even
MRSH third-down conversion ranks #106, MOST defends it at #82; the other way MOST #101 into MRSH's #74.
context · not in the margin
Form (last 5)
Slight edge
MRSH
MOST −50.0 per game over the last five, MRSH −45.0.
context · not in the margin
Market
not priced
No line yet.
context · not in the margin

The margin, factor by factor

Marshall Thundering HerdMissouri State Bears
1430 Elo · #133
RatingThe Elo gap in points — the model's core read on who is better, before the situational pieces below.
MRSH +4.5 pts
1349 Elo · #205
road
Home field
not priced
home
Rest
even
+1.2 pts vs MOST D
Offense vs defenseEach offense's scoring rating against the other defense's — what drives the model total. Shown as an edge, though the winner call runs on Elo.
MRSH +2.4 pts
−1.3 pts vs MRSH D
L · −45.0
Form (last 5)Average margin over the last five games. Already inside the ratings — listed so you can see when recent form and the rating disagree.
MRSH +2.5 pts
L · −50.0
−4.5
SP+ (last season)Bill Connelly's SP+ from last season, the prior the college model starts each season from.
MRSH +6.2 pts
−10.7
MarketThe consensus spread, read as points. Compare with the model margin above it.
not priced

Bars are in points toward the favored side. Blue factors are inside the model's margin; grey ones are context it does not add on top (form and offense/defense are already in the ratings; injuries beyond the quarterback are not priced).

Dissect the matchup

CollegeFootballData, garbage time excluded · 2025 season (last season until three games are in)

Biggest mismatches

  • MOST pass explosiveness (#8) against a MRSH defense ranked #132 at stopping it
  • MRSH defense (#16 line yards / rush allowed) against a MOST offense ranked #130
  • MRSH defense (#11 rush success rate allowed) against a MOST offense ranked #123
  • MRSH defense (#25 stuff rate forced) against a MOST offense ranked #134
  • MRSH defense (#16 power success allowed) against a MOST offense ranked #125

A mismatch is a rank gap of at least a fifth of the league between an offense and the defense it faces on the same measure. Descriptive rows (pass rate, pace, direction) are shown for reading the game, not ranked. ▲▼ mark where the last three games sit clearly above or below the season number, in the direction that helps that side.

Marshall Thundering Herd offense vs Missouri State Bears defense

ranks of 135
MRSH offMOST defEdge
Identity
Pass rate / Pass rate faced42%50%·
Standard-down shareShare of plays on standard downs (staying ahead of the chains).72%70%·
Plays / game6561·
Possession / game30:0528:39·
Passing
Passing PPA / playPredicted points added per pass play (CFBD).+0.38#28+0.33#106MRSH
Pass success rate48%#1643%#92MRSH
Pass explosivenessPPA on successful pass plays — how big the wins are.1.52#841.56#69·
Yards / pass attempt7.4#577.2#74·
Completion %65%#3764%#103MRSH
Interception rate / Interceptions forced3.9%#1192.7%#53MOST
Rushing
Rushing PPA / play+0.05#99+0.16#101·
Rush success rate43%#6743%#72·
Rush explosiveness0.85#1191.03#101·
Line yards / rushYards credited to the offensive line (first 4 yards weighted). Defense column: allowed.3.05#492.76#47·
Stuff rate / Stuff rate forcedRushes stopped at or behind the line.17%#4520%#59·
Power successConversion rate on 3rd/4th and ≤2, or goal-to-go from the 2.63%#11983%#128·
Yards / rush4.8#344.7#100MRSH
Situational
Standard-down PPA+0.14#53+0.19#118MRSH
Passing-down PPAObvious passing situations (2nd & 8+, 3rd/4th & 5+).+0.31#63+0.33#88·
Third-down conversion35%#10640%#82·
Points / scoring opportunityPoints per drive that reaches the opponent's 40.3.89#513.89#88MRSH
Havoc rate faced / Havoc rateTFLs, forced fumbles, interceptions and passes defensed per play.13.0%#2915.0%#84MRSH
Turnovers / game / Takeaways / game1.25#681.15#88·

Missouri State Bears offense vs Marshall Thundering Herd defense

ranks of 135
MOST offMRSH defEdge
Identity
Pass rate / Pass rate faced56%48%·
Standard-down shareShare of plays on standard downs (staying ahead of the chains).64%66%·
Plays / game6367·
Possession / game31:2129:55·
Passing
Passing PPA / playPredicted points added per pass play (CFBD).+0.34#41+0.33#107MOST
Pass success rate42%#5942%#73·
Pass explosivenessPPA on successful pass plays — how big the wins are.1.78#81.83#132MOST
Yards / pass attempt8.4#208.5#127MOST
Completion %64%#5158%#28·
Interception rate / Interceptions forced1.8%#401.6%#112MOST
Rushing
Rushing PPA / play+0.03#112+0.04#30MRSH
Rush success rate37%#12337%#11MRSH
Rush explosiveness1.07#290.99#85MOST
Line yards / rushYards credited to the offensive line (first 4 yards weighted). Defense column: allowed.2.49#1302.60#16MRSH
Stuff rate / Stuff rate forcedRushes stopped at or behind the line.27%#13422%#25MRSH
Power successConversion rate on 3rd/4th and ≤2, or goal-to-go from the 2.61%#12563%#16MRSH
Yards / rush3.6#1143.9#49MRSH
Situational
Standard-down PPA+0.13#58+0.13#91MOST
Passing-down PPAObvious passing situations (2nd & 8+, 3rd/4th & 5+).+0.27#83+0.21#32MRSH
Third-down conversion36%#10140%#74MRSH
Points / scoring opportunityPoints per drive that reaches the opponent's 40.3.69#673.62#64·
Havoc rate faced / Havoc rateTFLs, forced fumbles, interceptions and passes defensed per play.23.9%#13515.7%#66MRSH
Turnovers / game / Takeaways / game1.38#851.75#19MRSH

Season

MRSHMOST
0-1Record0-1
0.0Points for / game0.0
45.0Points against / game50.0
0-0 / 0-1Home / road0-0 / 0-1
0-1Against the spread0-1
0-1Over / underOvers–unders in this team's games. A tendency, not a lean.0-1
LLast 5L

Power ratings

MRSHMOST
1430Elo1349
#133 of 240Rank#205 of 240
−3.1Offense ratingPoints per game above league average scored, opponent-adjusted.−2.5
−1.2Defense ratingPoints per game below league average allowed, opponent-adjusted. Positive is good.−4.3
1768Strength of scheduleMean Elo of opponents faced this season.1804

Elo drives the winner call. Offense/defense ratings drive the total.

Advanced

MRSHMOST
−8.2SP+ (this season)Bill Connelly's SP+ rating, points above average.−19.1
0.189Offense PPA / playPredicted points added per play, garbage time excluded (CFBD).0.177
0.157Defense PPA / playPPA allowed per play — lower is better.0.232
45% / 39%Success rate (off / def)39% / 43%
1.16 / 1.42Explosiveness (off / def)1.50 / 1.31
595Talent composite247Sports team talent composite for the current roster.550
99%Returning production31%

Advanced stats are from 2025 until this season has about three games. Source: CollegeFootballData.

Head to head

2025MOST 21 at MRSH 20MOST · MOST covered

How the margin was built

Rating gap
MRSH +4.5 pts
Home field
MOST +— pts
Rest
Even
Weather / roof
— pts on the total
Model margin
Model total

Market

Spread
Total
Moneyline

Per-book prices appear once the multi-book feed has this game (about a week out).

Informational only. Winner probabilities are backtested and calibrated; spread and total calls are tracked leans. 21+, 1-800-GAMBLER.